Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-09


needed by the wise man."
Mr. Brudenel gasped, but said nothing
in reply The sight of that calm and I'm
disturbed face, master of itself, though all
his friends fortunes were lost, and the
authoritative repetition of the adjective,
subdued him.
"There is q short leading article on it,
said Tom. 81 will read it.
"The presentation yesterday, of wind
ing up petition for the great trading Com
pany Known as Brudenefs-nfter the
name OF the founder--together with the
fact that it was unopposed, have struck
with CONSERVATION Others besides the I'M
fortunate shareholders themselves. For
If this house, apparently so prospecting,
thus suddenly cnllapses, who knows If
others may not be in the same rotten con-
dition 1t has long been certain that the
carrying trade has been bad, not owing so
much TO the depression of trade rs to the
multiplication OF ships. But no one, it Is
safe to say, except, perhaps, those who
were acute observers in the city, predicted
the downfall of BrudenePs. The secrets
of the Board have been we'll kept. Mean
time, many rumors are ahoat. II is con
fidently asserted thot the high dividends
hitherto declared must have been paid
out of capital. 1t is said that the bank
ruptcy of the Company is cjmpete. A
meeting of shareholders has been already
hastily summoned to consider what steps
the Directors. The firm whose business was
taken over by this Company was found
ell by the late Mr.. Abraham 8rudenel,
one,of those successful, enterprising and
keen sighted merchants who have made
the English name. He was succeeded by
his sons, the present SIR Abraham and
Mr.. Cyrus Brudenel, who formed 1t into
n Company while it was still in perfectly
solvent and tlourishing condition. For
thirty years the Company has seemed to
be advancing It's capital has been greatly
increased it has always paid large and
steady dividends. The shares have gone
up, until two days ago they were quoted
at 500, and business at that figure was &C
tually done on the Exchange. SO sudden
and unexpected a collapse is almost with
a parallel We trust that a searching in
curry will be made into the causes of
the failure, and that some explanation
will be demanded as to the high dividends.
1t is pitiful TO think Of the unhappy share
holders, many of whom are widows,
ladies, and orphans, whose shares in Bru
denel's were regarded rs perfectly safe
and trustworthy, and VINO find themselves
now in helpless and hopeless poverty. 1t
is understood that one of the brothers. MIR
Cyrus Brudenel. has retained a large stake
in the business. though he has taken no
part in the direction since the formation
Of the Company
This is your trihe, Paul" said Tom,
CONCLUDING,
lis it ," Paul replied carelessly. Let
US go on with breakfast: People nave
lost money. Some who intended to do
nothing all their lives will have to work.
Some who thought they were going to
wear silk will wear stuff. Some who
thought they We're going to die in their
own houses will die in the Workheuse;
some"
Paul" said Lady Augusta, "do not be
too high for us. Consider-consider, we
have not all reached that level. BE patient
with us"
But Paul shook his head impatiently.
This fuss" he said, "about money !'
MY Company Mr. Brudenel answer
ed. My fathers concern-bankrupt
ruined. The children's money all gone
Cicely, you are a pauper, nv dear Tom,
your guardian has thrown away your Tor
| tune; you've got nothing but your brains
and your hands"
Lucky for Tom" said Paul.
why did they not help us :" asked Mr..
| Brudenel. They ought to have helped us.
What have they done for us Nothing
ingW
Paul went to the sideboard aud helped
himself.
This is an excellent ham," he said,
'The English ham at Its best is really su
perior to any other, though have tasted
very good hams in Russia"
Nobody replied. One or two, however,
thought this conduct and these words an
exhibition of heartiessness.
When it comes to sOu6thing practi-
cal" said Tom, your friends. Paul, are
not so good as poor old Chicks Spir .ts''
Practical You call money practical
But l forget, Tom, you believe nothing
TO yon money is doubtless. very practi
cal thing"
He continued to eat his breakfast with
undiminishe appetite and vigor amid the
stricken family. Sibyl poured out his tea
for him with set lips and red cheeks
Cicely hung her head Lady Augusta
dropped but Paul ate and drank, ant
was as cheerful us If nothing at all had
happened.
Then Mr.. Cyrus Brudenel, after tht
manner of the AnCients, and quite forget
.ul of Divine Prophecy and the Precept:
OF IsaS Ibn Meneiek, just rs if the Abys
sinian Sage had not taken him ia hand a
all, began Monologue or Lament Ovel
the lost Company. 1t was almost an Epic
1t opened with a narrative OF the circum
stances which led his father to leave hi!
native village and repair TO London will
twopence in his pocket. Nobody evel
really succeeds in London if he is so IN
fortunate rs to have more than twopenct
to begin with. The paternal Brudenel
the original Abraham, became a shopboy
fulness of time founded the great Concern
which bears his name. AT first it was no
a great Concern, but only a small venture
which was nursed, followed. and develop
ed, with as much care as Abraham hat
been wont to lavish upon the turkeys If
his native county of Norfolk. until it grew
into a Concern. Then, Mr.. Cyrus Brude
mel related, the time came when hi
father had TO die. He did this with the ut
most reluctance, not because he wa
afraid TO die, but because it seemed
so great pity to leave the Concern Unit
1t was fully developed, and there wer
still some shores and ports in the worlt
, that knew not yet the name of Brudenel
The death-bed scene was truly touching
Then, changing his key, like a minstre
, who knows how to touch the hearts of hi
hearers, Mr.. Cyrus Brudenel went on t,
relate how he and his brother carried oil
the concern for awhile, but resolved a
length to make it into company, and di,
50, taking large sum of money and 81
many fully paid up shares, which they i'm
mediately sold at a large premium. ant
bought land In the days when land wa
still valuable; and how his brother got
! baronetcy and how he himself devote,
, | his life to the science of SDiritualisti